Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



G. W.SCHOF|ELD.

Breech Loading Fire Arm.

Patented .lune 14,1870.

NPETERS, PHDTo-LITMCGRAFHER, wASmNGTON. D c.V

GEORGE W. SGHOEIELD, 0E UNITED STATES ARMY."

Letters Patent No. 104,211, dated .Tune 14, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN IBREECHi-LOADING- f IRE-ARMS.

The Schedule referred to in these Lettera Patent and making part of the same To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE W. SoHoFInLD, of the United States Army, have invented a new-and useful Improvement in Breech-loading Fire-Arms, of which the following is an accurate and full description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to a combined or connected hammer and tumbler swinging on la single pivot, the hammer above and -the tumbler below the pivoting point, and operating in rear of and in line with a breech-block-also swinging upon a single pivot, the hammer and breech-block acting in certain positions separavtely,I and in others conjointly.

The nature of my invention consists in an improvement upon certain breech-loading fire-arms, as shown in the American patent granted to L. Geiger, Jaunary 27, 1863, and also in the American patent granted H. Berdan, January 9,1866, by making the combined hammer, tumbler, and locking-brace in one piece, with the notches n the tumbler of the shape and construction herein shown -and described, so that the piece can be loaded at half or less than full-cock, orbe carried safely and conveniently loaded or not loaded by means of a quarter-cock.

Description of the Accompanying Drawing.

Figure 1 is a plan view, showing the forni of the b ody or lower portion' of the hammer, the hammer proper and the tumbler; the dotted lines indicate an old form. e

Figure 2,is a front view of the invention, showing the groove in the upper part of the head of the hammer.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the invention in postion, a portion of the frame being broken out, showing the pieceat half-cock, and the cartridge partially inserted. e

Figure 4 is the same as iig. 3, but shows the piece at quarter-cock.

' General Description.

A is a portion of the barrel of the arm.

B isg'the filame of usual construction.

-G is the guard-plate.

D is the combined hammer and tumbler, with the notches yz made in one piece, and groove c, which .may he used or n0t,at option, as the face of the head of the hammer is distant from or in proximity to the base ofthe firing-pin when distant it is not requiredwhen near'it is.

-. The head may be` either giooved or beveled, the

object being to permit the insertion of the cartridge when the piece is athalf-cock.

c is a hole to receive a b'olt upon which the hammer and tumbler pivot. j

e is the locking-brace, formed by making a shoulder on the front face of the hammer, which conforms to r the surface of the breech-block immediately adjacent to and back of the thumb-piece.

Eis the breech-piece swinging upon the pivot f,

and provided with a thumb-piece, d, for moving it backward and forward, a recess.(not shown) to receive 'the ejector, (not shown,) a firing-pin, g, passing horizontally through the upperpart of the breech-block, on a line with the axis of the bore, having a spring acting backward, a circular groove, s, to allow the cartridge free entrance to the chamber, which groove passes around about one-half of the lower circular portion ot' the breech-block.

A slot is cut in the lower end of the groove to re. ceire the forward end of the rear guard, which, by

means of a spring below, acts upon the breech-hio'ck when thrown forward near to or against thc end of the barrel.

F is the trigger, provided with the seai' t.

The balance of the component parts shown in the drawing heilig old are not particularly described.A

The-invention is thus operated:

To load, force back the hammer a to the second or half-cock, thus bringing the point of the sear t into the notch y, and the face e clear of the part E.; the breech-block E is thus freed; throw this back by means of its thumb-piece de; insert the cartridge into the chamber, return the breech-block E to place, and the piece is loaded.-

To fire, force back the hammer a to the third `oi: full-cock, which brings the point of the sear t into the third notch z of the part D; press upon thetrigger F, which removes the sear t, 4thus freeing thehammer and firing the piece. v

'lo carry the arm safely when loaded, and conveniently either loaded or empty, when the operation of loading is performed, as above described, let down the hammer to the first or quai'tercoc'k by the usual means; this securely locks the bileecli-block without permitting thc hammer to strike or rest upon the h'ring-piii.

Claims.

What I. claim as my inventioinand desire` to secure by Letters Patent, is l 1. A hammer, tumbler, and locliing-brace made 1n one piece, of the shape and construction shown, mov-v ing ona single pivot in rear and operating in conjunction with a swinging breech-block, so that the piece can be loaded when at halt` or less than full-coclc, or the breech-piece locked against the end of barrel and the piece safely carried at quarter-cock, arranged and operated substantially as shown and described.

2. The breech-block E,.and the hammer and tumbler D in their improved and modified relations to and with each* other, substantially as hereiir shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing improvement in breech-loading fire-arms, as above described, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 29th day of January, 1870.

Witnesses: GEORGE W. SOHOFIELD. LL. s]

JOHN C. 00X, EDM; F. BROWN. 

